Public preferences for skin cancer prevention policies
A discrete choice experiment in three European countries
Sander Boxebeld ( Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam)
N. Mouter (Populytics B.V, TU Delft - Transport and Logistics)
Job van Exel ( Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam)
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Abstract
Objective: In many countries, the incidence of skin cancer is growing rapidly, resulting in a substantive health and economic burden. While the wide range of available skin cancer prevention policies may have large individual and societal benefits, many countries still lack a policy strategy, and little is known about public preferences for collective prevention policy measures. We elicited these preferences using a discrete choice experiment (DCE) in Austria, the Netherlands, and Spain to inform policy action. Methods: Respondents were asked to choose twelve times between two packages of different prevention policies. Each package was described by its estimated effectiveness and costs. Before and after the DCE, respondents were asked for their support for any policy action. We quota-sampled adult citizens in each of the countries from an online panel (N = 2,442). The choice data were analyzed using multinomial logit (MNL) and mixed multinomial logit (MMNL) models. Results: Almost all attributes significantly influenced respondents’ choices, with the tax attribute being most influential in each country. Among the six policy measures, information campaigns and a price reduction of sunscreen were the most preferred policy measures, and the prohibition of solar bed sales and solaria the least preferred. Preference structures were largely consistent across the countries. Finally, most respondents supported policy action, particularly after the DCE. Conclusions: Citizens in the three countries recommended their governments to take policy action against the increasing incidence of skin cancer. The results provide policymakers with directions for publicly supported policy action, which should be complemented with additional information on preference heterogeneity, citizens' argumentation, and policies’ relative (cost-)effectiveness. The suggestion that preferences for policy action adapted over the course of completing the DCE survey should be further examined.
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